Dadasaheb Phalke Award well-deserved honour for Manoj Kumar: Jaitley

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is a well-deserved honour for veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, who became the 47th recipient of India’s topmost cinematic laurel on Tuesday, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley said.

In his address at the 63rd National Film Awards ceremony, Jaitley said: “We’ve just honoured Mr. Manoj Kumar for almost a generation of having acted and directed in some of the best cinema ever produced in this country. He branded the very idea of patriotism. He blended it with talent, legendary music, acting, scripts.

“I think its an extremely well deserved honour, which has be conferred on him. We wish the very best and a long life. Very healthy life for the years to come.”

Jaitley also said that Manoj Kumar made audiences remember issues like “freedom struggle, post China war, problems of the farmers and also the lives of the revolutionaries” through his films.

The minister also noted that at the award ceremony, different generations have been honoured as megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actress Kangana Ranaut received the Best Actor and Best Actress honours.

“We have honoured different generations today. In fact the two best actors belong to entirely two different generations…” he said.

Lauding Indian cinema’s popularity across the globe, he said: “It’s (Indian cinema) an industry which has become international because many of our best endeavours are finding audiences elsewhere in the world.”

The minister also stressed that in the Indian cinema industry, the country’s diversity is also displayed.